Meeting of African Ministers in charge of Gender and Women’s Affairs on “COVID-19 Response and Recovery” - a Gendered Framework

Date: Monday, May 11, 2020

UN Women and the African Union, in partnership with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), will host the inaugural meeting of African Ministers for Gender and Women’s Affairs, on 12 May 2020 under the theme “COVID-19 Response and Recovery - a Gendered Framework."

Focusing on how to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on African women and girls, the meeting will be co-chaired by UN Women’s Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Chairperson of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, Beatrice Lomeya Atilite.

The ministerial meeting is expected to discuss key lessons learned and good practices in gender-responsive crisis management and mitigation, agree on and articulate strategic priorities to advocate for a gender-responsive crisis management and response, and for a gender-transformative recovery framework. It will also articulate key actions to be prioritized at regional and country levels.

The political declaration emanating from the meeting will address the challenges facing women and girls in Africa due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while informing response and recovery planning and financing.

Ministers of Gender & Women's Affairs from @_AfricanUnion Member States with highest number of #COVID19 cases and those with lowest number shared best practices/lessons in providing gender-responsive responses to the pandemic including addressing #GBV and economic toll on women. pic.twitter.com/85Nw59D2ge